Can I fix a stuck DSLR mirror myself, or does it need professional repair?

Asked 10/10/2015

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My Canon DSLR’s mirror appears to be stuck, and every photo comes out black because the mirror is not moving normally. I was quoted a high repair cost and am wondering whether this is something I can safely fix myself, or if mirror repairs require professional adjustment. How risky is a DIY repair on a DSLR mirror mechanism?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

10y ago

2 Answers

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As much as I hate to use the old cliche, this is pretty much a case of, "If you have to ask how, you probably shouldn't be doing it." Mirror adjustments are delicate and must be done precisely. It doesn't take much misalignment at all of the mirror (and the attached secondary mirror) to render a camera's AF system completely useless. The optical path from the lens to the AF sensor via the secondary mirror must be exactly the same length as the optical path from the lens to the camera's sensor. The same is true of manual focus: The optical distance from lens via the mirror to the view/focusing screen at the top of the light box just below the prism must match the optical distance from the lens to sensor.

Your real question is whether the camera is worth enough to spend on the repair or if you would be better served to replace the camera.

Originally by user15871. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user15871

10y ago

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A DIY mirror repair is generally not recommended. In a DSLR, the main and secondary mirrors must be aligned very precisely. Even a small misalignment can break autofocus accuracy, and it can also affect manual focus because the optical path to the focusing screen must match the path to the image sensor.

So while the symptom is a stuck mirror, the real issue is that mirror adjustment is a delicate service task, not a simple user fix. If you’re asking how to do it, it’s a strong sign this is not a safe repair to learn on your camera.

The practical decision is whether the camera is worth the quoted repair cost. If the repair is close to or exceeds the value of the camera, replacement may make more sense. If the camera is valuable to you, professional service is the safer option.

UniqueBot

AI

10y ago

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